Meanwhile, within the Heraklinos Empire, the rain continued to beat against the large windows of the Heraklinos Palace, and the thunder rattled the room in which Jarek and Starfallen sat, all alone.
The lights flickered as another thunder boomed directly overhead.
Starfallen leaned forward with her elbows on the table and an air of enthusiasm in her demeanor, something few ever saw from her, “All of our models have been proven true! There has been a complete resurgence in data regarding our study of void portals ever since Xenia made her return.”
Her smiled widened as she raised her hands in front of her exclaiming, “We haven’t seen this level of productivity out of our research since the likes of Victoria during the Great War. It’s an explosion of very useful data!”
Jarek, in contrast, maintained a less than thrilled demeanor as he sat with his arms crossed, “Starfallen. If you could read the patterns of ki every time Xenia opened and used a void portal then how long have you known she’s been back?”
He shot a dagger glare at Starfallen as her enthusiastic face turned defensive, “Well, certainly the appearance of multiple spikes in void activity raised the degree of certainty regarding the possibility of her return; however, there are no guarantees.” She maintained a stern expression at Jarek, “Recall, the body of the deceased Xenia was under lock and key in your possession. All of us were told we had your guarantee.”
Jarek maintained a stern tone, “As you say, there are no guarantees. Especially when dealing with BloodStars. Both of our families know that all too well, don’t we?”
“Yes, we certainly do. We share a common ground there.” She leaned back in her seat with a more comfortable posture, “Nonetheless, what would we have done differently, anyways?”
Jarek grit his teeth trying to hold back his anger at her callous statement, “We could have been better prepared for such outcomes. We could have taken more caution at the wedding. Erika might still be alive.”
Jarek stood and started pacing by the windows looking out at the storm, “Your team could’ve also been in danger. Imagine if one of them slipped up and let this information out into the wrong hands. Do you think Xenia would have let you or your team live?”
Starfallen smirked, “No. We wouldn’t have been alive for long. Yet here I am. My team is loyal. My team is impervious. No slip ups. No leaks.”
Jarek crossed his arms and smirked, “It may not be a matter of loyalty. Have you ever tried to hide your mind from a bloodbender of Xenia’s caliber? Hmm?”
Jarek stared Starfallen down awaiting her answer, but she didn’t answer his ostensibly rhetorical question.
Tired of waiting, Jarek then shouted, “I have! And failed!”
He walked back near the table, “How is your team going to remain impervious to that!”
Starfallen held her arms out in a defeated gesture, “So maybe you are right. And your concerns are noted going forward. But here I am with no leaks and an as of yet impervious team.”
The two looked at one another and Jarek nodded in agreement and took his seat once again to listen to her.
“Now let me tell you. This explosion of data that we have collected and analyzed has given birth to a very viable contingency plan.” She leaned forward with her elbows on the table once more, “And with the way things are looking, this is becoming less of a contingency plan and more of a primary plan.”
Jarek shook his head, “No. Things haven’t even begun to unfold. Don’t underestimate the power of me and my son. We have yet to give an earnest shot at stopping Xenia ourselves though I agree we should be on standby with your plan.”
He then firmly reminded her, “This is a contingency plan. Don’t forget it. It was originally designed to require approval by multiple Masters though all are dead but us now. Nonetheless, it is a contingency plan to save humanity. It is not a plan to save just us or just the elites.”
He then rubbed his chin, “What is your capacity?”
Starfallen let out a labored sigh, “Not enough. Ten thousand. With time we could increase that number greatly.”
“Time isn’t something we have a lot of.” Jarek continued to rub his chin before sliding his face into the palm of his hand, “And we lose more time every passing second.”
He picked his face up off his palm and looked to Starfallen, “And where does it lead? Do we even know?”
Starfallen once again resumed her enthusiastic demeanor with a big smile as her posture perked up, “Now that’s where things get interesting.”
___________________________________
Elsewhere, within the Starfallen Empire, John Vand entered into a dark, grungy but bustling bar filled with lower- and middle-class patrons.
He scanned the bar area until he saw a man sitting at a high-top table waving at him from across the bar. Vand out of habit motioned to hang up his coat near the door; however, he found that an attendant was not present.
He mused to himself, “No, no I suppose I wouldn’t be waited on in an establishment such as this one. Anyways, my habit betrays me. I need to keep this coat close.”
He pat a firm lump in his coat and made his way over to the man waving him down.
“Elliot Spencer, its been much too long. How have you been old friend?” Vand took his seat across from Elliot.
Elliot shook his hand over the table, “I’ve been busy but well. A round of beers?”
Vand nodded, “You could’ve had me fooled Elliot. You look busy but unwell.”
The bartender pointed to Elliot and shouted, “Beers ready!”
Elliot hopped up off the seat landing on the ground with no problem. Vand looked at him with a surprised expression, “Elliot. You’re 86 years young, but last time I saw you I could’ve sworn your osteoarthritis had you all but wheelchair bound.”
“As I said, I am busy but well. Hold that thought.” Elliot turned and hop-stepped over to the bar displaying his spriteliness. He grabbed the beers and promptly returned.
“You’re an American citizen. A top researcher in the United States, but here you are in the Starfallen Empire. You’re an old man who I thought retired for health reasons, but here you are as nimble as a fox. We have a lot to catch up on it would seem.” Vand smiled as he clinked his beer to Elliot’s as they both took a large gulp.
“It’s a very simple story really. Lady Starfallen paid me a massive heap of money to come research with her team. A sizable payment as to keep my mouth shut regarding the details.” Elliot relaxed in his chair.
Vand eyed him curiously, “Well money is money as you know. I am paying you more, surely. But probably not enough to merit divulging state secrets, so what gives?”
“You inquired about my osteoarthritis. Well, I had a health checkup in the states before coming here. While I was in the main atrium of the hospital, I ran in to none other than your favorite young and talented leader, Xenia Victoria BloodStar. Of course, she was merely a Princess back then, and she was accompanied by a dreadful Dr. Stone who urged her to move along. But she didn’t. She healed me of my ailments right then and right there in the atrium. She is the reason I am able to be here. She is the reason I am able to continue my research with renewed mental and physical vigor. So when you told me you had a question which she was curious about… well… let’s just say I owe her much more than Lady Starfallen could ever offer me.”
Vand nodded, “Yes. Xenia really wants to know something.”
“Okay, ask away.” Elliot opened his arms gesturing to interrogate him freely.
“I have a feeling what you are working is related to what I have questions about. Tell me everything about your project, and I will show you what I have.” Vand spoke with a hushed tone in the bar despite the loud background noise.
“Oh, very well, John.” Elliot had known Vand for more than half a century and had no qualms spilling all the details, “Lady Starfallen, as you know, has long been obsessed with cosmic research. Few know why. I didn’t know myself until very recently.”
Elliot leaned forward on the table and took a big sip of beer before continuing, “Her entire family tree has for centuries built up data regarding interstellar and stellar research. They have data and entries going back to the very first of recorded history. Why is that? The answer… is a small stone.”
Vand nodded thinking to himself, “Just as I hoped for. Starfallen has one too.”
Elliot continued, “This stone is very peculiar. She calls it a Mana Stone. It is like a reservoir of ki stored in a stone instead of a ki user’s body, and it can be recharged after use. It is for all intents and purposes the physical embodiment and representation of someone’s ki. The power in the stone Starfallen has it roughly equivalent to one of Karasu’s seats which train under him.”
Vand was eager to hear more, “And just how did Lady Starfallen’s family come into possession of this stone? Did they make it? Find it?”
“I don’t know the answer to that. More importantly though is what will she use this stone for? You see, the energy stored in this stone is very much akin to Starfallen’s own albeit slightly different. Just different enough to be used to open Void Portals.”
Vand’s eyes sharpened as he took a drink of beer, “A portal to where?”
Elliot grinned, “Where do you think?”
The two men paused as they took drinks from their mugs. Elliot then wiped his mouth and continued, “Make no mistake, Lady Starfallen is a prolific researcher herself. Centuries of data are under her belt, and I believe she is searching for a way to contact other civilizations in our galaxy. Has she found one? I doubt it.”
“And why would she be doing that?” Vand asked.
“Well, I think she knows the world order could soon change with a resurgence of the BloodStar Empire. Trust me, people love Xenia. She is sexy, sweet, friendly, benevolent, and oh so violent. Let’s face it, the majority of the world is in poverty thanks to rich men like us, and those people crave to see Xenia take heads on their behalf. They know Xenia doesn’t want money. She doesn’t need it. They know she doesn’t kotow to other leaders. She doesn’t need to. She has power independent of every variable because of her ki, so she can play the game free of influence. People want a reset, and she is the answer.”
“Yes, but why would Starfallen need a void portal?” Vand still harbored confusion regarding the situation.
“It’s hard to say as I only study this stone, but I would gather that she and others may want to leave Earth and come back later when they know they can defeat Xenia. Or maybe return with reinforcements. But there are just so many unknown variables opening a portal to what-could-be another planet. So many things could go wrong, so I gather this would be an option of last resort.”
Elliot quietly took a sip of his beer while Vand processed all of this new information. Elliot then carefully placed his beer mug down on the table and sighed, “Ah who gives a shit though, really. It’s all a moot point anyways.”
“Why moot?”
“Well, this mana stone is so small, I don’t see them getting it to work despite Lady Starfallen’s misplaced enthusiasm.”
Vand grabbed a napkin and placed it on the table, “Can you draw about how big this stone of yours is?”
“Uhh sure.” Elliot grabbed a pen from his breast pocket and drew a bottle-cap sized circle on the napkin, “About that big. Kind of like a circle with a diameter of one inch.”
Vand then reached into his pocket and pulled out a fist-sized stone. He placed it on the table with a loud thud, “And what about this Mana Stone. Could this fuel the void portal Lady Starfallen so desperately seeks?”
Elliot’s eyes went wide with shock as he gingerly picked up the stone with both hands and brought it up to his face whispering, “Oh my. Where did you get this?”
Vand smiled, “Xenia BloodStar is just full of surprises. Isn’t she?”
Meanwhile, within the Heraklinos Empire, the rain continued to beat against the large windows of the Heraklinos Palace, and the thunder rattled the room in which Jarek and Starfallen sat, all alone.
The lights flickered as another thunder boomed directly overhead.
Starfallen leaned forward with her elbows on the table and an air of enthusiasm in her demeanor, something few ever saw from her, “All of our models have been proven true! There has been a complete resurgence in data regarding our study of void portals ever since Xenia made her return.”
Her smiled widened as she raised her hands in front of her exclaiming, “We haven’t seen this level of productivity out of our research since the likes of Victoria during the Great War. It’s an explosion of very useful data!”
Jarek, in contrast, maintained a less than thrilled demeanor as he sat with his arms crossed, “Starfallen. If you could read the patterns of ki every time Xenia opened and used a void portal then how long have you known she’s been back?”
He shot a dagger glare at Starfallen as her enthusiastic face turned defensive, “Well, certainly the appearance of multiple spikes in void activity raised the degree of certainty regarding the possibility of her return; however, there are no guarantees.” She maintained a stern expression at Jarek, “Recall, the body of the deceased Xenia was under lock and key in your possession. All of us were told we had your guarantee.”
Jarek maintained a stern tone, “As you say, there are no guarantees. Especially when dealing with BloodStars. Both of our families know that all too well, don’t we?”
“Yes, we certainly do. We share a common ground there.” She leaned back in her seat with a more comfortable posture, “Nonetheless, what would we have done differently, anyways?”
Jarek grit his teeth trying to hold back his anger at her callous statement, “We could have been better prepared for such outcomes. We could have taken more caution at the wedding. Erika might still be alive.”
Jarek stood and started pacing by the windows looking out at the storm, “Your team could’ve also been in danger. Imagine if one of them slipped up and let this information out into the wrong hands. Do you think Xenia would have let you or your team live?”
Starfallen smirked, “No. We wouldn’t have been alive for long. Yet here I am. My team is loyal. My team is impervious. No slip ups. No leaks.”
Jarek crossed his arms and smirked, “It may not be a matter of loyalty. Have you ever tried to hide your mind from a bloodbender of Xenia’s caliber? Hmm?”
Jarek stared Starfallen down awaiting her answer, but she didn’t answer his ostensibly rhetorical question.
Tired of waiting, Jarek then shouted, “I have! And failed!”
He walked back near the table, “How is your team going to remain impervious to that!”
Starfallen held her arms out in a defeated gesture, “So maybe you are right. And your concerns are noted going forward. But here I am with no leaks and an as of yet impervious team.”
The two looked at one another and Jarek nodded in agreement and took his seat once again to listen to her.
“Now let me tell you. This explosion of data that we have collected and analyzed has given birth to a very viable contingency plan.” She leaned forward with her elbows on the table once more, “And with the way things are looking, this is becoming less of a contingency plan and more of a primary plan.”
Jarek shook his head, “No. Things haven’t even begun to unfold. Don’t underestimate the power of me and my son. We have yet to give an earnest shot at stopping Xenia ourselves though I agree we should be on standby with your plan.”
He then firmly reminded her, “This is a contingency plan. Don’t forget it. It was originally designed to require approval by multiple Masters though all are dead but us now. Nonetheless, it is a contingency plan to save humanity. It is not a plan to save just us or just the elites.”
He then rubbed his chin, “What is your capacity?”
Starfallen let out a labored sigh, “Not enough. Ten thousand. With time we could increase that number greatly.”
“Time isn’t something we have a lot of.” Jarek continued to rub his chin before sliding his face into the palm of his hand, “And we lose more time every passing second.”
He picked his face up off his palm and looked to Starfallen, “And where does it lead? Do we even know?”
Starfallen once again resumed her enthusiastic demeanor with a big smile as her posture perked up, “Now that’s where things get interesting.”
___________________________________
Elsewhere, within the Starfallen Empire, John Vand entered into a dark, grungy but bustling bar filled with lower- and middle-class patrons.
He scanned the bar area until he saw a man sitting at a high-top table waving at him from across the bar. Vand out of habit motioned to hang up his coat near the door; however, he found that an attendant was not present.
He mused to himself, “No, no I suppose I wouldn’t be waited on in an establishment such as this one. Anyways, my habit betrays me. I need to keep this coat close.”
He pat a firm lump in his coat and made his way over to the man waving him down.
“Elliot Spencer, its been much too long. How have you been old friend?” Vand took his seat across from Elliot.
Elliot shook his hand over the table, “I’ve been busy but well. A round of beers?”
Vand nodded, “You could’ve had me fooled Elliot. You look busy but unwell.”
The bartender pointed to Elliot and shouted, “Beers ready!”
Elliot hopped up off the seat landing on the ground with no problem. Vand looked at him with a surprised expression, “Elliot. You’re 86 years young, but last time I saw you I could’ve sworn your osteoarthritis had you all but wheelchair bound.”
“As I said, I am busy but well. Hold that thought.” Elliot turned and hop-stepped over to the bar displaying his spriteliness. He grabbed the beers and promptly returned.
“You’re an American citizen. A top researcher in the United States, but here you are in the Starfallen Empire. You’re an old man who I thought retired for health reasons, but here you are as nimble as a fox. We have a lot to catch up on it would seem.” Vand smiled as he clinked his beer to Elliot’s as they both took a large gulp.
“It’s a very simple story really. Lady Starfallen paid me a massive heap of money to come research with her team. A sizable payment as to keep my mouth shut regarding the details.” Elliot relaxed in his chair.
Vand eyed him curiously, “Well money is money as you know. I am paying you more, surely. But probably not enough to merit divulging state secrets, so what gives?”
“You inquired about my osteoarthritis. Well, I had a health checkup in the states before coming here. While I was in the main atrium of the hospital, I ran in to none other than your favorite young and talented leader, Xenia Victoria BloodStar. Of course, she was merely a Princess back then, and she was accompanied by a dreadful Dr. Stone who urged her to move along. But she didn’t. She healed me of my ailments right then and right there in the atrium. She is the reason I am able to be here. She is the reason I am able to continue my research with renewed mental and physical vigor. So when you told me you had a question which she was curious about… well… let’s just say I owe her much more than Lady Starfallen could ever offer me.”
Vand nodded, “Yes. Xenia really wants to know something.”
“Okay, ask away.” Elliot opened his arms gesturing to interrogate him freely.
“I have a feeling what you are working is related to what I have questions about. Tell me everything about your project, and I will show you what I have.” Vand spoke with a hushed tone in the bar despite the loud background noise.
“Oh, very well, John.” Elliot had known Vand for more than half a century and had no qualms spilling all the details, “Lady Starfallen, as you know, has long been obsessed with cosmic research. Few know why. I didn’t know myself until very recently.”
Elliot leaned forward on the table and took a big sip of beer before continuing, “Her entire family tree has for centuries built up data regarding interstellar and stellar research. They have data and entries going back to the very first of recorded history. Why is that? The answer… is a small stone.”
Vand nodded thinking to himself, “Just as I hoped for. Starfallen has one too.”
Elliot continued, “This stone is very peculiar. She calls it a Mana Stone. It is like a reservoir of ki stored in a stone instead of a ki user’s body, and it can be recharged after use. It is for all intents and purposes the physical embodiment and representation of someone’s ki. The power in the stone Starfallen has it roughly equivalent to one of Karasu’s seats which train under him.”
Vand was eager to hear more, “And just how did Lady Starfallen’s family come into possession of this stone? Did they make it? Find it?”
“I don’t know the answer to that. More importantly though is what will she use this stone for? You see, the energy stored in this stone is very much akin to Starfallen’s own albeit slightly different. Just different enough to be used to open Void Portals.”
Vand’s eyes sharpened as he took a drink of beer, “A portal to where?”
Elliot grinned, “Where do you think?”
The two men paused as they took drinks from their mugs. Elliot then wiped his mouth and continued, “Make no mistake, Lady Starfallen is a prolific researcher herself. Centuries of data are under her belt, and I believe she is searching for a way to contact other civilizations in our galaxy. Has she found one? I doubt it.”
“And why would she be doing that?” Vand asked.
“Well, I think she knows the world order could soon change with a resurgence of the BloodStar Empire. Trust me, people love Xenia. She is sexy, sweet, friendly, benevolent, and oh so violent. Let’s face it, the majority of the world is in poverty thanks to rich men like us, and those people crave to see Xenia take heads on their behalf. They know Xenia doesn’t want money. She doesn’t need it. They know she doesn’t kotow to other leaders. She doesn’t need to. She has power independent of every variable because of her ki, so she can play the game free of influence. People want a reset, and she is the answer.”
“Yes, but why would Starfallen need a void portal?” Vand still harbored confusion regarding the situation.
“It’s hard to say as I only study this stone, but I would gather that she and others may want to leave Earth and come back later when they know they can defeat Xenia. Or maybe return with reinforcements. But there are just so many unknown variables opening a portal to what-could-be another planet. So many things could go wrong, so I gather this would be an option of last resort.”
Elliot quietly took a sip of his beer while Vand processed all of this new information. Elliot then carefully placed his beer mug down on the table and sighed, “Ah who gives a shit though, really. It’s all a moot point anyways.”
“Why moot?”
“Well, this mana stone is so small, I don’t see them getting it to work despite Lady Starfallen’s misplaced enthusiasm.”
Vand grabbed a napkin and placed it on the table, “Can you draw about how big this stone of yours is?”
“Uhh sure.” Elliot grabbed a pen from his breast pocket and drew a bottle-cap sized circle on the napkin, “About that big. Kind of like a circle with a diameter of one inch.”
Vand then reached into his pocket and pulled out a fist-sized stone. He placed it on the table with a loud thud, “And what about this Mana Stone. Could this fuel the void portal Lady Starfallen so desperately seeks?”
Elliot’s eyes went wide with shock as he gingerly picked up the stone with both hands and brought it up to his face whispering, “Oh my. Where did you get this?”
Vand smiled, “Xenia BloodStar is just full of surprises. Isn’t she?”
